Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 45

Earlier that day…

Orchid

I could not stand to wait around for Orion to replace something with which to placate me. I wasn’t used to this. To being a kept woman. It sounded glamorous on paper but in reality I was like some exotic caged bird. Does it matter to a bird if her cage is made of gold or iron and if the hand that feeds her belongs to a haggard beggar or a handsome billionaire? A cage is a cage. I was having a panic attack over these disappointing results and I needed to know my cage door was open to stay. Suddenly, I felt alone again so I wanted to be alone and feel self-reliant instead of just lonely.

“I’m going out,” I decided, getting out of bed.

I would not wallow in this.

“What?!” Squeaked Rose, jumping up.

She had been sitting at my bedside with her head and arms resting on the bed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you,” I said quickly putting a palm up. “But I just need to get some air. That’s all,” I said gently.

“No!” Said Rose, her eyes widening.

“I’m just going for a walk,” I said.

“Around the house?” she said.

“In the human realm,” I said hesitantly.

“What?!” Shrieked Rose.

“Orion let me go this morning!” I reasoned.

She stared at me.

“Didn’t Perseus tell you?” I asked.

“He might’ve mentioned it but then Orion wanted you back right away,” she said.

“And I came back! Didn’t I?” I asked.

“Well, yeah,” said Rose.

“So what’s the problem? I arrived here in a cage!” I snapped.

“No you didn’t! The Caro family did that. Orion and Perseus didn’t even know they used cages! They thought it was more of a persuasion,” said Rose.

I rolled my eyes. I did not believe that for a second.

“Perseus and Orion met with the Caro Brother you know. They discussed better ways of procuring the mates. They launched complaints. They killed Boris!” She told me.

I sighed. I did not need to be reminded of that. I did not agree with him being killed. He had been acting on their orders. He had been overly cruel but it had still been a hypocritical move in my opinion.

“I don’t wanna rehash all of this but I’m glad future kidnapees will suffer less,” I said as ridiculous as that sounded.

I had no idea what else to say. I got up.

“Orchid!” Squealed Rose.

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

“I’m coming with you,” she said.

“Would Perseus allow that?” I tried, feeling guilty for saying that but I had to dissuade her.

“I don’t know. I’ve never asked to go to the human realm. I haven’t actually been back to my home like you have and it’s in this realm,” she said softly, her eyes downcast.

I felt really sad for her all of a sudden.

“I didn’t know that,” I said gently. “As soon as I’m back from my work, we’re gonna break down the door to Perseus’ office and demand you get to go visit your pack lands whenever you like,” I said, determined, and I meant it.

She smiled slightly. Her eyes lit up.

“Really?!” She asked.

“Yes!” I whispered fiercely. “But just allow me this brief freedom. Two visits in a day is a lot so don’t go calling Orion ok. Let me get a head start. I just wanna swing in the park,” I admitted.

She raised her eyebrows.

“I know it’s dumb. It’s what I would do when I was depressed before…before all of this. I don’t have that now. I want to have that again. It really helps me,” I explained.

“Orion can buy you a swing or build one. Easily!” She insisted.

“I know that,” I grumbled. “This is different. This is the exact rickety old swing in the park I grew up swinging in. This is the swing that I sit on and it takes me back. I feel like a little girl again. It’s so vivid. I have no problems, no mortgage, no stress, no concept of money or obligations or disappointment or…” I stopped my rambling.

“The river,” said Rose softly.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“For me, it was the river. I would look at the water rushing and try to skip rocks. It was near impossible in rushing water but I still tried,” laughed Rose. “I went there every time I was sad from the time I was seven maybe. It runs near the back of my house. I’m from a rural area not a city like you. I…went there when I found out my family might sell me to Perseus. He’s been really good to me. I can’t deny that. I love him…I do…but sometimes…I…miss the river,” she said with a shrug.

“I miss my river too, Rose,” I said, looking her in the eyes. “I promise you’ll go back to yours. I won’t rest. You know how annoying I can be,” I said, laughing.

She snorted with laughter.

“You’re just passionate,” she said. “It’s admirable. I like it,” she decided.

I rushed towards her and we hugged each other tightly. As I reached the door she said, “I know I’m being dumb and impulsive.”

“So am I,” I said, looking back.

“Touché,” she said.

I paused.

“I love you,” I said. “You’re the closest thing I have to a sister,” I told her.

It was true.

“I love you too and we will be sisters. You’re marrying Orion,” she pointed out.

I had almost forgotten I was engaged. Damn, since when was I such a mess?

“Soon,” I said and I stole out of the room.

Getting to the dungeon without being stopped was fairly easy. It had always been easy to sneak around the mansion once I got away from Orion because very few people were high-ranking enough to feel comfortable questioning me and my movements. Wolf hierarchy was so intense even a seemingly captive human Luna was a potential threat. I was not human. I had to remind myself of that. I felt very human. So what if I could transform my hands into paws with claws? What would that do?

At least you can scratch the s**t out of anyone who tries anything, mused my she-wolf.

I stopped in my tracks. I was almost to the portal. I sighed in the darkness of the dungeons. A fairly new guard smiled and nodded at me. I nodded back, laughing nervously.

“Forgive me, Luna Orchid?” asked the young wolf.

“Yes, proceed,” I said awkwardly realising he was asking permission to speak to me.

“May I escort you or perhaps carry out your business or task for you entirely?” He asked eagerly.

“What’s your name?” I asked quickly.

“Fernando but everyone calls be Inferno,” said Fernando.

I had to ask.

“Why?” I asked.

Inferno chuckled.

“When I was a baby, the house I lived in with my parents caught on fire, it burnt to the ground. My parents had not been home thank goodness. They had left me with the nanny. When they saw the charred ruins, they panicked. They were hysterical. They ran past the fire brigade into the shambles and ash and they found me. Asleep in my crib with the nanny asleep in her rocking chair. The crib, the rocking chair, the nanny, me, all intact, perfect, no sign of harm, no burns, no signs of damage from smoke inhalation in the tests and X-rays they did afterwards,” said Inferno with a shrug.

Orchid had almost managed to forget her own troubles for a bit.

“That’s amazing,” she said in earnest. “Was it you? Shielding yourself and your aunt?” I asked.

He grinned. There was fluorescent lighting overhead but there were also old-fashioned torches lining the wall, remnants of the olden days. Inferno snapped his fingers and the torches all lit up, their flames bursting to life, one by one. I marvelled at his handiwork.

“You’re a wizard?” I assumed.

“I’m a werewolf,” he said confidently. “I just have a little something extra,” he said with a wink. “That happens sometimes.”

“That’s amazing. I wish I had a little something extra,” I admitted.

“I bet you do,” he said in that same confident manner of his. “Now, may I accompany you?”

“I’m sorry but I’m just going for a quick walk that’s all. I don’t need any accompaniment,” I said quickly, turning to leave.

I paused and turned back to him.

“Could we keep this between us?” I asked hesitantly.

He looked stunned. Suddenly, he seemed worried.

“Please!” I prompted. “I’ll be back in an hour if so much,” I said.

“Ok,” he said, not sounding confident anymore. “You are the Luna. I will do what you say,” he added.

“Thanks,” I said.

I rushed through the portal and found myself in the affluent gated community of Gregoire. s**t. I would not have a limo this time. I would have to walk. I sighed.

“Luna Orchid?” Said a voice.

I looked around. I was standing on a patch of impossibly green grass just off the pristine sidewalk. Gorgeous homes with stunning gardens dominated the street. A woman in an elegant powder blue dress and matching stilettos was walking towards me. She was super-model material. I gasped.

“Sylvia?” I asked.

She smiled.

“Salvia,” she said.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said.

“That’s quite all right. Sylvia is my sister. People confuse us all the time,” said Salvia. “You don’t look alike but you’re just so similar. Your names and flair for fashion,” I said, smiling.

I felt a little uneasy seeing her. She was nice enough but she had been involved in my kidnapping even if only to put makeup and a designer dress on me.

“You’re out walking?” She asked, confused.

I nodded.

“A Luna walking? With an Alpha as rich as yours?” She asked.

She was suspicious. She nodded towards her car, a BMW.

“How about a lift?” She asked.

“Ok,” I said somewhat reluctantly.

I did not particularly want to walk. She could not harm me. Everyone was afraid of Orion except me. I sat in the passenger seat and she drove me towards the side of the island I had grown up on.

“How are things with your Alpha?” She asked hesitantly. “You warming up to him?”

A memory flashed through my mind of my heat. Orion had put me on his shoulders and trapped me between his tongue and the wall. I shivered and my face got hot just from the recollection.

“Yes, we’re getting along,” I said mildly.

“Great,” chimed Salvia.

She dropped me off at the park.

“I feel a little…unorthodox leaving you here,” she said, worried.

So kidnapping me was orthodox and giving me a ride to the park was not.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured her.

She sighed.

“Ok,” she said. “You’re the Luna now,” she added with a shrug. “Do take care!” She admonished, waggling her finger at me.

I chuckled and she smiled. She drove away after a graceful beauty queen wave. I got on the swing. Finally. I shut my eyes and began to swing. I heard the creaking of the rusty metal chains. I drowned out the sound, flooding myself in memories. This always calmed me down. I swung higher and higher, creating my own wind and momentum. I laughed to myself. I probably seemed like a crazy person but this was exhilarating. I felt so happy and free even if just for a moment. I would close my eyes when I reached the highest point because the sun was in them. When I swung backwards and was angled towards the ground, I would open them. I could no longer drown out the squeaking and creaking of the metal.

Eyes closed.

Creak.

Eyes open.

Squeak

Eyes closed.

Creak.

Eyes open.

Squeak.

Eyes closed.

Creak.

Eyes open.

I saw it just as I heard the squeak of the swing. I was so panicked, I tried to hop off the swing in midair. It was almost involuntary, an instinctual reaction. My limps just jerked wanting to escape and then my brain reminded me I was in the air on a swing. That momentary indecision made me lose my balance. I fell. I hit the ground with a thud. Pain burst through me but I did not let it hamper me from scrambling back to my feet as quickly as possible. I had seen it. His car. My eyes found it. It was there! The grey car. I was frightened but I was also furious. Why was he following me?!

“Orchid,” said a voice I would unfortunately know anywhere.

“Mary-Sue?” I said.

Her grating nasal voice was so distinctive.

“Yeah,” she chuckled.

She looked horrible, like she had just been through the wringer.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I locked myself in…” she began. “Never mind,” she said with an airy laugh and a wave of her hand.

“How’d you replace me?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Lucky for me and Mary-Beth,” said Mary-Sue. “We ordered makeup from that Caro Sister. She came by just at the right time and let me out.”

Let her out?

“And brought my makeup,” she added. “She told me she ran into you. That was why she was late to come to my house. She took a detour to drop you here,” said Mary-Sue.

I frowned.

“Ok,” I said dryly.

“Orchid,” said Mary-Sue.

“What?” I asked, annoyed.

“I want to apologise,” she said, seemingly sincere. “You’re not a bad sort, you know.”

“Um, thank you,” I said, assuming she was apologising for lusting after my mate.

“Truce?” she said, extending her hand.

I stared at her warily.

“Truce,” I said softly, shaking her hand.

I heard a click. I looked down. She had put a bracelet on me. Silver! It was not burning but there was no clasp to take it off either. I turned my hands into paws to try to pry it off with my claws. That was a big mistake. I let out a b***d-curdling scream as the silver seared my lupine hands.

“What did you do?” I shrieked. “Why did you do this?”

Mary-Sue looked at me blankly.

“I’m sorry,” she said simply.

Someone was running towards us. It was my ex! My heart plummeted into my stomach. I saw red. That b***h! She set me up! How did she plan this so quickly? Had she just been waiting for a weak moment? She was not going to get away with this! He was not going to get away with this! I used the snug thick silver bangle to my advantage. Before my ex reached me, I grabbed Mary-Sue by the shoulder with my claws and dragged my silver bangle across her face as roughly as I could. It grazed her, leaving red marks that would not fade quickly because they’d been made by silver.

“YOU b***h!” Screeched Mary-Sue, grabbing me by the shoulders and trying to subdue me.

“GO f**k YOURSELF!” I roared in her face, making the grassy playground we were on tremble a little.

She let me go in astonishment. I had never been angrier in my life. I shoved her towards my ex so that she knocked into him and they both stumbled. I ran. As fast as I could.

“HELP! HELP!” I screamed.

It could not hurt to call for help. It would attract others to the situation. Even if they could not help, maybe they could alert Orion or Talus. Someone would come looking for me. I tried to bring my wolf forwards despite the silver bangle and I felt my wrist searing. I winced but I did not shift. I slowed down a little due to my burning wrist. I felt something collide with me, knocking me over. The last thing I saw was his face: all sharp angles with high cheekbones and a pointed chin and that smile. That wicked spiteful smile.